Gelfand Effect: More Money for Chess Clubs

Culture and Sport Minister Limor Livnat announced, Sunday afternoon, a new initiative, supported by the Prime Minister's Office, to provide support for the establishment of dozens of local chess clubs in Israel by the end of 2013. The announcement came during a reception to mark the return to Israel of Boris Gelfand, following last week's loss in a tie breaker at the World Chess Championships.

The ministry and the council for betting on sports budgeted 1.2 million shekels for chess in 2012, and an additional NIS 1.2 million will be allocated to staging the European Chess Club Championship this October in Eilat.